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Abstract:

A method for operating a building closure is disclosed. The building
closure may be in the shape of a sectional door or a garage door. The
position of the building closure and a motor current of a drive device is
monitored by a control apparatus. When the building closure stands still,
an electrical drive device arrests the building enclosure by providing an
electrically conducting connection between winding of the drive device to
ground. The position detection device continues to monitor a signal
change such that in response to the signal change, the arresting is
suspended and the electrical drive device is at least partially
energized.

Claims:

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for operating a building closure having the shape of an
overhead sectional door or of a garage door including a counterweight
device and an electrical drive device, a position detection device, which
is coupled in a compulsory manner to the electrical drive device, or
wherein a position detection device has a direct or an indirect
connection to the building closure, wherein the drive device is charged
by an intelligent control apparatus including several programs, which are
permanently stored in memories, the method comprising: monitoring, by the
control apparatus, the position of the building closure and a motor
current of the drive device in mutual dependence; arresting the
electrical drive device when the building closure stands still by
providing an electrically conducting connection between windings of the
drive device to ground; and continuing to monitor, by the position
detection device, a signal change such that in response to a signal
change, the arresting is suspended and the electrical drive device is at
least partially energized.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein when the door is in the open position,
the partial energizing of the electrical drive device acts in an opening
direction of the building closure.

16. A method of claim 14, wherein when the door is in the closed
position, the partial energizing of the electrical drive device acts in a
closing direction of the building closure.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising at least one program of the
control apparatus stored in a non-volatile memory.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the at least one program can be
modified or adapted according to the door type.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the electrical drive device is
configured as a commutator-less electrical motor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical drive device comprises
at least one of a brush-less direct current motor or a three-phase
current motor.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the arresting is performed by an
electrical or a mechanical switch device.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein for a three-phase current electrical
drive device, the partial energizing is realized in at least two phases.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the control apparatus automatically
recognizes different types of electrical drive devices.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the control apparatus automatically
adapts a necessary power requirement of the drive device to maintain the
door in a stationary position.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the drive device is controlled by a
pulse-width modulation or a phase angle control.

26. The method of claim 14 wherein the position detection device
comprises an incremental encoder.

27. The method of claim 14 wherein the position detection device
comprises a Hall effect sensor.

28. The method of claim 14 wherein the position detection device
comprises an ultra-sound sensor.

29. A movable barrier operator for moving a barrier between an open
position and a closed position, comprising: a motor; a position detection
device for detecting the position of the barrier; a switch operable
between a first position and a second position in response to a signal
from the controller, wherein when the switch is disposed in the first
position, the switch electrically connects motor windings to a motor
ground to arrest the motor and when the switch is in the second position,
the electrical connection between the windings and the ground is removed
to allow movement of the motor; a controller configured to monitor the
position of the barrier and the current of the motor as the barrier is in
the open position; wherein in response to a change in position of the
barrier from the open position toward the closed position, the controller
sends a signal to move the switch from the first position to the second
position and partially energizes the motor to reposition the barrier to
the open position.

30. The movable barrier operator of claim 27, wherein the position
detecting device is a hall sensor.

31. The movable barrier operator of claim 27, wherein the position
detecting device is an encoder.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a building closure
having the shape of an overhead sectional door or of a garage door or the
like, including a spring-loaded counterweight device and an electrical
drive device, which essentially consists of an electrical motor, with or
without a gear, and a position detection device, which is coupled in a
compulsory manner to the electrical motor or to the gear, respectively
directly or indirectly to the building closure, which position detection
device is charged by an intelligent control apparatus including several
programs which among others comprise a current limitation.

[0002] The document DE 101 28 257 A1 describes a door operator for
elevator doors including a motor, by means of which an elevator door is
displaceable along a predetermined travel distance, and describes a
control, which controls the motor operation according to programs and
pulses which are detected at the pulse generator of the motor. In order
to reduce the expense for the starting and normal operation of the door
operator, the control includes several operating conditions, in which the
motor operation is variably controlled, and the control automatically
switches between these conditions.

[0003] The object of the invention is to ensure that, when the electrical
drive motor stands still, the actual position of the connected building
closure is maintained in a long-term stable manner in both the open
position and the closed position. In this case, in particular expensive
solutions, such as equipping the electrical motor with an auxiliary
winding and energizing the latter in the terminal positions, should be
foregone. Furthermore, mechanical interlocking units are not desirable
either, because they would increase the cost for such a door. It should
be possible to equally employ such a solution for different door types,
respectively door dimensions.

SUMMARY

[0004] According to the invention, a method for different door types and
door dimensions for operating a building closure in the shape of an
overhead sectional door or a garage door or the like, including a
spring-loaded counterweight device and an electrical drive device is
proposed. The electrical drive device is a control apparatus, which has
several programs or program steps stored in a controller, in order to
activate different door types and door dimensions as well as different
motor types, such as three-phase current motors, or electrical motors
without collectors, in particular configured as brush-less direct current
motors. Parameters and the like are stored for example in EEPROMs and
other non-volatile memories. A learning run is performed in order to
determine the specific parameters of the corresponding building closure,
and the data and parameters collected during the run are stored in
memories of the control apparatus, and later serve as the reference for
the subsequent operation of such a building closure. Based on the
provided reference information, and in conjunction with a position
detection device, it is possible to always precisely determine the
position of the building closure at each location of the travel path. At
the same time and depending on the position of the building closure, at
least one program in the control apparatus monitors and modifies the
motor current.

[0005] When the building closure reaches for example the open position,
the gear motor needs to sufficiently compensate for the force resulting
from the counteracting torsion spring and the counterweight. So that the
building closure does not accidentally leave the open position on account
of the counteracting forces, the electrical motor is arrested in this
position without utilizing any mechanical means. This may be achieved by
an electrically conducting connection between the terminal clamps or
individual windings, respectively by electrically connecting the terminal
clamps or the windings of the motor to ground. Connecting the winding
phases in this manner, for example in case of a three-phase current
motor, achieves arresting the motor in a current-less state in any
desired position. As this switching measure occurs at the terminal clamps
of the winding of the electrical motor, so to speak during the slow down,
respectively the immobilization of the motor in one of the terminal
positions, no excessive counteracting forces will arise, because the
motor is turned-off by a fixed, load-depending motor operating value. In
this case, measuring the currents is realized in that sufficient
information on the occurring braking torques is known. Depending on the
type of motor utilized, pulse width modulations or else phase angle
controls are thus utilized for the drive device. The electrical
characteristics of such a pulsed load circuit are constantly monitored by
such a method, wherein such a load circuit includes at least one ohmic
and one inductive component.

[0006] Thus, when the electrical motor stands still, the above mentioned
method always includes automatically an electrical arresting via the
terminal clamps of the winding or the like. During operation, on account
of the provided information in the memory of the drive device and the
data delivered by the position detection device, a precise position of
the building closure is known at each location of the traveling path or
at immobilization. A permanent signal monitoring at the position
detection device is even performed during immobilization. In the event
signal variables or signal changes would occur during this period of time
at the position detection device, on account of the program control, this
signal variable or signal change would neutralize the electrical
arresting at the terminal clamps of the winding or the like of the
electrical motor, and simultaneously effect a partial energizing of the
electrical motor. In this case, the partial energizing occurs in the
direction of movement opposite to the one signaled by the position
detection device. Such a position detection device may be configured as
an incremental encoder, or as a Hall effect sensor or as a switch, or as
an ultra-sound sensor or the like.

[0007] This is for example the case in the open position of the building
closure, such that, with occurring higher spring forces or other
counteracting forces, where a force acts in the direction of the closed
position of the building closure, the position detection device will
signal this circumstance. Based on the corresponding data, the control
apparatus reacts by automatically initiating a partial energizing of the
drive device, such that the desired position in the open position is
reached again and is kept. Once the control process of partial energizing
is carried out, the partial energizing is maintained for example, if
further counteracting forces are in effect at a higher value,
respectively the partial energizing is suspended and simultaneously the
electrical arresting is carried out again via the terminal clamps of the
winding or the like of the electrical motor. Subsequently the building
closure remains in the desired open position.

[0008] In the closed position in an analogous way, the closed position of
the building closure is monitored. In the event an individual would
attempt to push the door leaf of the building closure open by using
excessive force, the position detection device would detect this action.
The signals or signal changes at the position detection device activate a
program, which executes the arresting by means of an electrically
conducting connection between the terminal clamps or individual windings,
respectively by electrically connecting the terminal clamps or the
windings of the motor to ground. Once the arresting is suspended by the
control apparatus according to a program, a partial energizing is
maintained until the building closure remains again reliably in its
desired closed position. In case no further additional counteracting
forces are present, the arresting is again carried out according to the
program as described above.

[0009] It should be understood that, based on differently dimensioned
building closures, different values are required for such a partial
energizing. However, the control apparatus automatically recognizes this
status. Based on the originally performed learning run, the individual
parameters are memorized for the utilized door type and the door
dimension thereof. Should the memorized values prove to be insufficient,
it is possible to proceed to an adaptation and modification of these
values during a test run.

[0010] In order to be able to realize such arresting via the terminal
clamps of the winding of the electrical motor by an electrically
conducting connection between the terminal clamps or individual windings,
respectively by electrically connecting the terminal clamps or the
windings of the motor to ground, an electrically or mechanically
switchable device may perform this action. In case of an electrical
device, transistors or the like may be utilized for example. In case of
mechanical devices, relays, contactors, switches or the like may be
employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will now be described in more detail, reference being
made to one possible embodiment example, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 shows three superimposed characteristic lines, wherein the
first characteristic line represents the motor current, the second
characteristic line represents the counteracting force of the spring
device, and the third characteristic line represents the information of
the position detection device;

[0013]FIG. 2 shows a potential program flow chart of the currents
occurring during a traveling path at the electrical motor, and therefore
at the drive device;

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram on the program steps, when the
building closure leaves the desired position;

[0016] In the following description, only the open position of the
building closure and the thereto program-related adjustments are
considered. However, the same mode of action applies to the closed
position, in which however, counteracting forces may only result from a
forced, unauthorized opening attempt in the direction opposite the closed
position.

[0017] The upper characteristic line of FIG. 1 shows the effective current
at the drive device along the traveling path, as the motor current
characteristic line 1. In this case, a soft-current start instruction 7,
from the arresting position, is carried out by increasing the current, as
a soft-start current 4, up to reaching the level of the desired traction
current 5. Shortly before reaching the position, i.e. the building
closure reaches the open position or the closed position, a
program-controlled instruction is issued by the control apparatus which
results in a soft-stop current 6. This soft-stop current 6 is reduced
until the current reaches a level of 0 at the terminal point 10 on the
motor current characteristic line 1, and simultaneously the program of
the drive device 19 effects an arresting 25 via the terminal clamps of
the electrical motor 24.

[0018] Below the motor current characteristic line 1, a spring force
characteristic line 2 is illustrated in the second diagram. This diagram
reveals that the spring force 8 continuously rises when opening the
building closure, because this force is supposed to assist when closing
the building closure. This diagram also reveals that the largest
counteracting force for the drive device occurs in the open position of
the building closure.

[0019] Below the spring force characteristic line 2, a position measuring
3 is illustrated by way of example by pulses. This diagram reveals that
the pulses of the position detection device cease to exist at the
terminal point 10, and that therefore the drive device issues the
instruction to arrest 25 the electric motor 24.

[0020]FIG. 2 reveals the flow of the different program steps for
energizing the electrical motor 24. The soft-start instruction 7 is
triggered by a motor start instruction 14, and the door in the shape of
the building closure opens or closes while starting to move slowly. Once
the soft-start phase is terminated, the current changes to traction
current 5, which is illustrated by the traction current instruction 11.
Shortly before reaching the desired position (open position or closed
position), a soft-stop instruction 12 is issued, which effects a
reduction of the traction current 5 for the motor 24. When reaching the
terminal position, an instruction 13 is issued, which effects that
simultaneously an arresting instruction 15 is issued for the electrical
motor 24. FIG. 2 reveals furthermore that a position acknowledgement 17
is sent to the position measuring device 16, in order to indicate that
the terminal position 10 has been reached. The position measuring device
16 is furthermore connected to the soft-start instruction 7, the traction
current instruction 11, and the soft-stop instruction 12.

[0021] The diagram in FIG. 3 illustrates the situation, where, for example
when measuring a position 16, the position detection device sends a
modified information, because, for whatever reasons, the desired position
has not been maintained. This information suspends the arresting 15 and
simultaneously a partial current instruction 18 is issued to the drive
device 19, which supplies the latter with a reduced current which is
important enough to move again to the previously desired position,
respectively it is also possible to maintain this position for a certain
adjustable period of time on account of the partial current. Said
information from the drive device 19 is obviously sent back to the
position detection 16 such that, when reaching the desired position, the
arresting 15 can be switched-on again.

[0022]FIG. 4 reveals how the electrical motor 24 is activated when the
partial-current instruction 18 is issued. The instruction partial current
18 is forwarded to the control 20, which in turn forwards the activation
to the power section 21. Depending on the desired position, subsequently
a reversal of the direction of rotation 23 is performed such that partial
current in the required travel direction is permanently supplied to the
electrical motor 24. This is detected by the position measuring unit 16.
At the same time, an additional current monitoring 22 is activated.